Nickey Yates Jr. walked as a free man Thursday for the first time since 2010.

“There are no words to express how I feel,” Yates said. “It’s a weight off my shoulders.”

Yates, 22, had been on trial in connection to the Nov. 1, 2010, strangling death of his neighbor, Linda Hulsman, 53. After a second day of deliberation, a jury found Yates not guilty of first degree murder, breaking and entering and common law robbery.

After court adjourned, Yates’ family and friends gathered on the steps of the Onslow County Superior Court, along with Yates’ attorney, Scott Jack of Jacksonville. Jack said the result was “fantastic” and attributed it to the lack of sufficient evidence on the part of the state.

“They had a duty to present evidence (against Yates) and they failed,” Jack said.

Yates’ father, Nickey Yates Sr., said the jury’s decision came as a relief to him and his family after three tough years.

“It was hell,” Yates Sr. said. “But, consider the hell (Yates Jr.) went through sitting in jail. Those are three years he can’t get back. He was just a 19-year-old trying to find himself and got caught up with a crowd that was over his head.”

Hulsman’s sister Laurel Feerick said she was “disappointed” by the verdict. District Attorney Ernie Lee said he had no comment.

Judge Charles Henry, who presided over the case, also said he had no comment.

Yates Jr. thanked his family and his attorney and said he planned on going back to school now that the trial’s over. Though he’s out of prison, he said it would be an experience that would stick with him for the rest of his life.

“I will never forget this,” Yates said.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer at The Daily News. Contact him at 910-219-8473 or Christopher.Thomas@JDNews.com.